Tag Archives: long island

Upon waking up this morning, I felt incredibly sad to think about my family and friends on Long Island and New York City currently without power and even worse, those in Staten Island and New Jersey who have lost everything. We’ve compiled a list of ways you can help both from afar and close by.

A family views the remains of all the homes burned in Breezy Point, NY – AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

If you can’t get hands-on, here are ways to help those in need:

1. American Red Cross: To donate, visit their website, which also allows users to find their local Red Cross chapter and pinpoint areas in greatest need. You can also call 800-Red-Cross or text “Redcross” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

3. The Humane Society is also accepting donations via text message, to donate $10 text “ANIMALS” to 20222. To learn more on how to help the animals affected by the storm, visit their website: http://www.humanesociety.org.

Want to get physical? Here’s how you can help:

1. Drop off food either, pre-made, boxed or canned as well as bottled water to the closest, open City Hall near the affected areas. They will make sure to provide your donations to the appropriate organizations. Don’t forget clothing as well, it’s cold out – so coats, gloves & scarves are highly needed!

3. Feeding America is accepting donations to help them provide food, water and other supplies to those affected by Sandy. You can also call 312.641.6846 and ask for Patrick Crawford, he’ll help you to find out the nearest location for drop off.

After picking up my beloved from JFK, we headed out East to Bayport, New York. A family BBQ was in order at the Fernandez house hold, AKA my Sister’s. C & I made a quick stop at Bayport beach for some boardwalk lovin’ & of course, photo op.

Funny story, as we were walking my new panama hat flew off & of course, landed in the water! This sweet fisherman scooped it out & saved the day. I mean, I’ve been on a mission for this hat..if he wasn’t there, I would have gone in – I wasn’t letting this baby get away.

Many of you may think we only focus on one event at a time, reality of the matter is..we don’t! With the help of our amazing team (and the lack of sleep/social life) we multitask like there’s no tomorrow! Many of our other projects consist of weddings, both in the States and out, as we do not stray away from a beautiful destination wedding (yes, these can be done within a budget as well!) We wanted to provide some insight into the madness that is wedding coordination and found a fantastic way of doing so through these eight simple reasons..

Reason # 1:

A theme is More Than A Hodgepodge of Great Ideas… Your ideas are fabulous. But the are only the foundation of your theme. Remember: They are only ideas and pictures ripped out of magazines. Brides have ended up blowing their budget on one item to the detriment of the whole wedding. This is where your wedding planner becomes your magician. Knowing all the tricks and resources, your wedding planner can create a theme that runs through the whole event. They see the whole picture. If budget is constraint, they will advise you to economize and still achieve a similar look.

Reason #2:

Is your Budget a Guideline or a Blueprint for Bankruptcy?… A budget is an essential part of your wedding planning. Even a million-dollar wedding has a budget. A budget will give you perspective and it will center you. It will be a great comfort to you when you want to know where you stand financially. Expenses tend to mount up quickly, and your budget will always give you a realistic assessment. I have witnessed brides being so out of control that they end up randomly buying items that have no rhyme or reason. That money could have been spent elsewhere to make the wedding a better experience for the guests. Being realistic about your budget is essential. Don’t fool yourself with a figure knowing you can go over it. You will only be hurting your chances of selecting the best possible vendors. Your wedding planner is your accountant and will believe the budget you give them. They honestly try to work within your parameters. Therefore, decide on a realistic figure so your wedding planner can recommend the vendors who will deliver the best work within your budget.

Reason #3:

The Venue Event Manager… When the event manager from your venue tells you she can do your wedding planning, she is not lying. She will do everything under the sun to oversee everything she is responsible for; however, she is not responsible for 90 percent of the details that go into your wedding. Some brides are shocked when things go wrong. They thought their venue person would be on top of things. Not necessarily. If they have several events that day, they can’t be held responsible for letting you know your flowers haven’t arrived or your best man is held up in traffic. Imagine walking into a bald room instead of the floral intensive ballroom you paid for. Your wedding planner is your overseer. Her job is to make sure everything arrives on time and complete. If you have 15 tables, 13 centerpieces just won’t do. She will get the florist to fix it. If the videographer does not show up, she should be able to find a replacement for you. Things happen, but it is your wedding planner’s job to see that things are fixed and end up perfect. Your wedding planner is your fairy godmother.

Reason #4:

Timelines and Other Annoying Details… Checklists. Do we know anyone who likes them? And timelines. “Who has time to think of these boring things? I’m getting married!” I recall one bride saying. Actually, you might not be getting married after all if the minister does not show up. Timelines are critical. Timelines are necessary. And timelines keep your wedding planner sane. She thrives on them. You, however, should never be subjected to them. These are the things a bubbling bride should be kept far away from. They will certainly kill the excitement.

Reason #5:

Synergy Applies to Vendors, Too… There are vendors who work so well together you almost get double your money’s worth. Having a vendor with an attitude can affect everyone. Your wedding planner knows these things and will steer you in the right direction. By involving your wedding planner in the selection of vendors from the invitations on, you will be guided down the path of success. After all, synergy is what we are striving for!

Reason # 6:

What are the Rules?… Brides need a go-to person for etiquette, wedding-related questions, and to keep the planning timeline moving forward. All brides need a liaison to help keep emotions and relationships from straining during planning. Your wedding planner is a combination of Martha Stewart and Emily Post. Do you really have the time and inclination to research, answer and solve the problem yourself?

Reason #7:

Overtime Charges Accrue Faster Than Champagne Pours… One hour of overtime with a location site or photographer can cost you plenty! Everyone is on the clock, and so is your wedding planner. The difference is your wedding planner is on your clock. She keeps everything in motion so extra costs are avoided. In the end, your wedding planner is the most cost-effective choice you can make.

Reason #8:

Frazzled is not Fabulous… Wedding planning and the events that lead up to your day will be stressful. You should have one job only. Keeping yourself relaxed and living in the moment. You need time to take in and enjoy this special day. Be with your loved ones. Be happy. Be kind. And mostly, be assured that your wedding is going to be the most fabulous day of your life. Yes, all weddings have glitches. And yours will, too. But your wedding planner will make sure you never have to deal with or see them. You may never even know anything out of the ordinary happened. And that is the sign that you are a genius at wedding planning. You started out with great ideas, hired a wedding planner to bring them to life, and sat back like a pampered princess on your wedding day accepting all the accolades that you deserve.

… And believe it or not, it doesn’t end there! Any loyal coordinator will make sure you are happy & that all necessities get done post wedding as well. A honeymoon is a vital part of any new marriage, although it may not happen the second the wedding is over…we make sure it happens and we use our resources to make sure it happens at a reasonable budget. Yup, we’re the full package..if I do say so myself!